Spring is the time filled with all colors of nature. Using natural colors in your home office or workplace simply by means of a vase or a pot with fresh flowers can boost your productivity tremendously and change your mood. It is easier than changing wall colors. Add colorful details and accents to benefit from the effects of colors on productivity.
1. Effects of Colors on Productivity
You can improve your productivity by becoming a creator of your mood through the atmosphere of beauty. Details can affect your well-being and work directly.
Different colors can correlate with the extent of cognitive processes, errors, concentration, and creativity.
Savavibool et al. (2018) have found that blue stimulates creative thinking. Red is good for better cognitive processes and interaction with external factors. However, it may also distract attention similarly to yellow and purple. Green color has a calming effect similarly to cool color variances. It helps staying concentrated through emotional control and prevents distraction by external factors.
Another study confirms these findings, highlighting the role of blue and green in increasing productivity (Coutinho & Akbay, 2023).
Chromatic color schemes improve performance better than achromatic. It is interesting to note that white may be associated with more errors and poorer concentration. However, if your home office walls are white, which is common and amounts to around 50 percent of cases, add colors in details. The problem with white is that it does not stimulate creativity and other cognitive processes but it is a great neutral color that adds spaciousness.
Spring is a great time to add purple to your home office for creative thinking. It is a great color for designers and marketers or other creative professionals. Purple flowers on the office table can serve as a great way to improve productivity.
Warm Colors
When it comes to warm colors like red, pink, orange, and yellow, they can be great for your positive mood, energy, and optimism.
Avoid overusing these colors, as they may cause the opposite effect of distracting you from work. However, adding accents is a great tool for enhancing cognitive performance and concentrating on the external world rather than internal thoughts.
Benefits of Color Accents
| Green | Emotional control |
| Red | Stimulating color, increased perception of the external setting, easy tasks |
| White | Soothing effect; neutral or somewhat dull, but great for home office walls and interior where it is possible to add colorful elements and spaciousness |
| Blue | Creative thinking, difficult tasks, calming effect |
| Purple | Creativity |
| Yellow and orange | Energy, stimulating effects, collaboration and team spirit |
| Grey | Conservative color that can be used as basic for interior with adding accents or colorful elements |
2. Ways to Add Colors to Your Home Office
Flower Pots in Baskets
Putting flowers in baskets can add a fresh touch to your home office decor without the need to change wall colors. Baskets from natural materials can serve as a great tool to store your office things.
Fresh Flowers in a Vase
Add color to your life and work by means of fresh flowers: red for stimulating effects and blue for concentration.
Color in Artworks
You can choose an artwork with particular color accents. Other ways to add colors is to use carpets or rugs and other small elements.
It is better to choose a neutral background and then add accents of one color depending on your job and tasks you perform:
- Warm colors for communication, friendliness, and energy or interaction with the world.
- Cool colors for creativity, concentration, and your interaction with the inner world and thoughts.
- Neutral white and grey as background or basic colors.
Takeaways
- Adding colorful elements to your home office can be a great productivity hack.
- Use color accents depending on your tasks: warm for low-demanding and cool colors for high-demanding.
- White and grey can be used as background colors – add accents.
- Analyze your feelings when you interact with a particular color and self-reflect.
Spring is a great time for making your home office and life filled with colors.
References
Coutinho, A. L., & Akbay, S. (2023). A review: The influence of colours in work environments. Online Journal of Art and Design, 11(1), 121-129.
Savavibool, N., Gatersleben, B., & Moorapun, C. (2018). The effect of colour in work environment: A systematic review. Asian Journal of Behavioural Studies, 3(13), 149. http://dx.doi.org/10.21834/ajbes.v3i13.152
Leave Your Feedback